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Pienaar’s faith keeping him at Ulster

South Africa scrum-half Ruan Pienaar has revealed that he has ‘so much more to do in Belfast’ with Ulster.

Pienaar joined the Irish province in 2010 and has made over 100 appearances for the 2012 European Cup finalists.

His match-winning abilities off the kicking tee have always made Pienaar a signing target for other clubs, with Toulon heavily interested before he signed his most recent Ulster contract rather than take the big-money move.

The 31-year-old, who now has 88 caps for the Springboks, feels like he belongs with Ulster and has unfinished business to take care of – starting with a must-win clash against Saracens in the Champions Cup this weekend.

“I had many offers from different places, France, England, you name it,” Pienaar told the Irish Independent.

“But I have always believed with my Christianity that there’s so much more to life than rugby.

“I said to my wife before we came here that we had to be strong in our faith and I believe that God gave me a door to walk through here at Ulster.

“Being here gives me an enormous sense of purpose: I am not just here for rugby, I’m here to touch lives.

“I felt comfortable staying in Belfast and I’ve never regretted my decision. I felt that the Lord had so much more to show me here and there’s so much more that I’ve got to do in Belfast. It was a huge help in my decision.”